Page 549 - vanity-fair

ed up his unwounded arm and touched-his cap sadly and
respectfully to the haggard broken-spirited gentleman who
questioned him. ‘The whole army didn’t contain a finer or
a better officer,’ the soldier said. ‘The Sergeant of the Cap-
tain’s company (Captain Raymond had it now), was in town,
though, and was just well of a shot in the shoulder. His hon-
our might see him if he liked, who could tell him anything
he wanted to know about—about the —th’s actions. But his
honour had seen Major Dobbin, no doubt, the brave Cap-
tain’s great friend; and Mrs. Osborne, who was here too,
and had been very bad, he heard everybody say. They say
she was out of her mind like for six weeks or more. But your
honour knows all about that—and asking your pardon’—
the man added.
Osborne put a guinea into the soldier’s hand, and told
him he should have another if he would bring the Sergeant
to the Hotel du Parc; a promise which very soon brought
the desired officer to Mr. Osborne’s presence. And the first
soldier went away; and after telling a comrade or two how
Captain Osborne’s father was arrived, and what a free-
handed generous gentleman he was, they went and made
good cheer with drink and feasting, as long as the guineas
lasted which had come from the proud purse of the mourn-
ing old father.
In the Sergeant’s company, who was also just convales-
cent, Osborne made the journey of Waterloo and Quatre
Bras, a journey which thousands of his countrymen were
then taking. He took the Sergeant with him in his carriage,
and went through both fields under his guidance. He saw

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